Shabbat Shalom: Reflections on the End of Exodus and the Completion of the "Malach"
In this week's parasha, we reach the end of Exodus and the completion of the Tabernacle. The final verses (Exodus 40:33-35) describe the raising of the court, the hanging of the screen, and the glory of the LORD filling the Tabernacle. Interestingly, the text states, "So Moses finished the work (malach)."
The word "malach" is typically translated as "angel" or "messenger," not "work." This raises intriguing questions about the writer's intention. In Genesis 2:1-2, the same word, "malach," is used in the context of creation: "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them...And on the seventh day God ended His work (malach) which He had done."
Could it be that the writer of Exodus is drawing a parallel between the completion of creation and the completion of the Tabernacle? Did God create the "malach" (angel) last? And what is the message the writer is conveying by using the same phrase in both Genesis and Exodus?
While we may not have definitive answers, it's worth noting the connection between the completion of the "malach" and the dwelling of God's presence (Shekinah) in the Tabernacle. The Hebrew word "shachan" (to dwell) is related to "Shekinah," and it appears in both Genesis 2:2 ("And God rested on the seventh day") and Exodus 40:34 ("Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle").
Shabbat: A Time of Rest and Completion
The themes of rest, completion, and God's dwelling presence resonate deeply with the concept of Shabbat. The word "Shabbat" itself is related to the Hebrew words for "settle," "dwell," "rest," and "become peaceful." Shabbat is a time to cease from work, to allow the message to be complete, and to experience the fullness of God's presence.
As we transition from Exodus to Leviticus, let us reflect on the significance of the "malach" and its connection to Shabbat. May we, like the Tabernacle, become dwelling places for God's glory, experiencing the peace and rest that come from a completed work.
Shabbat Shalom!